Improving Teen Driver Safety, Evaluating Educational Interventions to Reduce Overreliance on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can provide important safety benefits, but they may also encourage drivers to respond more slowly when the system turns control back to the driver. Teen drivers, who are still developing driving skills and awareness, may be more likely to misunderstand system limits or become inattentive when ADAS features are active. This project investigates whether targeted educational programs can reduce this type of overreliance and improve driver performance when automation disengages. The study will compare a traditional classroom style training module with an interactive simulator based program to determine how each affects driver attention and reaction time. A group of licensed teen drivers from Connecticut and Massachusetts will complete simulator sessions that include planned ADAS disengagements under both distracted and non distracted conditions. The simulators will collect data on braking, steering, lane position, reaction time, and gaze behavior. The results will show how training influences driver behavior during sudden transitions from automated to manual control. The findings will inform improvements to teen driver education materials and provide guidance for programs that teach responsible and informed use of ADAS technologies.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $281,000.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348301
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
130 Natural Resources Road
Amherst, MA United States 01003 -
Performing Organizations:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
130 Natural Resources Road
Amherst, MA United States 01003University of Connecticut, Storrs
Connecticut Transportation Institute
270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
Storrs, CT United States 06269-5202 -
Principal Investigators:
Coppa Wandenkolk, Isabelle
Roberts, Shannon
Shirani, Niloufar
- Start Date: 20260101
- Expected Completion Date: 20261231
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
- Subprogram: University Transportation Centers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicle handover; Behavior; Distraction; Driver education; Driver support systems; Driving simulators; Teenage drivers
- Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01973942
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: New England University Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348301
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Dec 11 2025 1:41PM